Flora of New Zealand Series

≡Parmelia crinita Ach., Syn. meth. Lich.: 196 (1814).

Description : Flora (1985: 357).

Chemistry : Cortex K+ yellow; medulla K+ yellow, C−, Pd+ orange; containing atranorin, chloroatranorin, stictic acid (major), constictic acid (minor), cryptostictic acid (tr.), nortstictic acid (tr.), ± menegazziaic acid (tr.) and connorstictic acid (tr.).

N: Northland (Three Kings Is), South Auckland (Kaimanawa Ra.). On bark and rock, most common in northern coastal vegetation (Avicennia, Leptospermum, Vitex lucens). A cosmopolitan species, widespread in humid habitats in temperate and tropical regions (Hale 1965b; Elix 1994p; Aptroot 2002e; Nash & Elix 2002g; Wolseley et al. 2002; Nimis & Martellos 2003; Mies & Schultz 2004) and in the Southern Hemisphere known from Chile, South Africa, Australia, Tristan da Cunha, and Gough I. (Hale 1965b; Jørgensen 1977; Elix 1994p; Galloway & Quilhot 1999; Elix & Gremmen 2002; McCarthy 2003c, 2006).

Cosmopolitan

Illustrations : Goward et al. (1994b: 96, fig. 1A); Wirth (1995a: 675); Malcolm & Galloway (1997: 121); McCune & Gieser (1997: 197); Louwhoff & Elix (1999: 41, fig. 10); Dobson (2000: 263 – as Parmelia crinita; 2005: 311); Brodo et al. (2001: 494, pl. 575); McCarthy & Malcolm (2004: 55).

Parmotrema crinitum is characterised by: the corticolous/saxicolous habit; the adnate thallus; ciliate lobe margins; laminal isidia which are often ciliate; and the presence of stictic acid metabolites in the medulla. It is distinguished from P. mellissii by differences in chemistry, more numerous rhizines, and isidia that are never sorediate.